Alaves proud in defeat

Alaves players lie dejected on the floor as Liverpool celebrate

Liverpool 5-4 Alaves
Liverpool win with golden goal in extra time

Alaves coach Mane praised his players and said they were proud in defeat after losing 5-4 to Liverpool in an enthralling Uefa Cup final.

The tiny Basque club, in their first European campaign, played with real guts as they came from behind three times to keep themselves in the game.

They came back from being 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3 down to force extra-time against the English League and FA Cup winners.

In the end though, Liverpool's nerve held as Alaves, becomming increasingly frustrated and tired had two players sent off.

Liverpool clinched the cup when Delfi Geli scored a heart-breaking golden own goal from a Gary McAllister corner in the 117th minute.

They're big men and we have to be proud of what we've done

  Alaves coach Mane

"Dortmund has seen a great final," said the coach.

"And it was possibly the smallest team in the competition that made it great."

Mane, full name Jose Manule Esnal, saluted a stunning display that saw them push Liverpool all the way to the tape.

"We played with pride and class to get the score back to 4-4 at the end of normal time," said Mane.

"The result of that, however, was that we were half dead going into extra-time.

"But we're the same team as we were two hours ago. One side always has to lose a final, just as one wins."

Jordi Cruyff's header takes the game to extra time

Alaves were virtually unknown outside Spain before a Cup run that brought victories over Inter Milan in the fourth round and Kaiserslautern in the semi-finals, with an impressive 9-2 aggregate.

"The players got us here working hard, playing great football and making the fans enjoy themselves," he said.

"They're big men and we have to be proud of what we've done.

"When you get to a final the important thing is the way you play and we played the same as we have done all season.

"On another day I'm sure it would have been a different result."